diff --git a/climax/core/cli.py b/climax/core/cli.py
index cc254014094963f250f3a63b3a4d45490b7bda54..84474ecfb188fb4df5a2698962b02e7f56607e0b 100644
--- a/climax/core/cli.py
+++ b/climax/core/cli.py
@@ -112,4 +112,9 @@ def preprocess_parser():
                               .format(default)), default=False, nargs='?',
                         const=True, metavar='')
 
+    # optional argument: csv file describing Cordex simulations
+    parser.add_argument('-f', '--file', type=pathlib.Path,
+                        help=('Path to EuroCordex inventory .csv file. {}.'
+                              .format(default)), default=None, metavar='')
+
     return parser